Changeable Shoe Cover

ABSTRACT

A modular shoe covering system which serves as a cover for a shoe body to improve the selection for shoe appearance while enhancing the durability of the shoe. The invention provides for a multi-functional and multi-appearance shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, or that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of modular shoecoverings and more specifically relates to a modular shoe coveringsystem.

2. Description of Related Art

Shoes are a desirable aspect of fashion presentation and a commonly wornitem that protects the foot while insulating it from moisture andtemperature. As a result, shoes are chosen to match clothing items orfor aligning with certain occasions, weather conditions, and servicerequirements. In an effort to offset purchasing shoes for everyinstance, modular shoe covering systems have been developed. A suitablesolution is desired for reliably adjusting the outer appearance ofshoes, enhancing the protection offered by the shoe, and increasing thedurability and life of the shoe.

Several attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problemssuch as those found in U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0263468 to Anthony Ciccarelli,U.S. Pat. No. 8,316,563 to Elizabeth Erika Wegner, U.S. Pat. No.5,311,676 to Thomas S. Hughes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,564 to MarkKettner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,369 to Angileen Bailey et al., U.S. Pat No.2013/0192205 to Brian Jay Linens, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,413,351 to MeganWatters. This art is representative of modular shoe covering means.However, none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singlyor in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.

Preferably, a modular shoe covering system should provide functional andfashionable shoe covering means and, yet would operate reliably and bemanufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliablemodular shoe covering system to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known modularshoe covering system art, the present invention provides a novel shoecover assembly. The general purpose of the present invention, which willbe described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a shoe coversystem.

A modular shoe cover system is disclosed herein, in a preferredembodiment, comprising a shoe body comprising a sole, an outsidesurface, an inside surface, a heel, a seat, a rail, and a plurality offirst-fasteners, a shoe cover assembly comprising a cover-body, aretainer strip comprising a rail receiver, and a plurality ofsecond-fasteners, wherein the modular shoe cover system comprises theshoe cover assembly. The shoe cover assembly comprises the shoe body andthe shoe cover in functional combination.

Referring now to the shoe body; the shoe body is structurally defined bythe sole, the outside surface, the inside surface, the heel, the seat,the rail, and the plurality of first-fasteners. The shoe cover isstructurally defined by the cover-body, the rail receiver, the retainerstrip, and the plurality of second-fasteners; wherein the retainer stripis structurally defined by the rail receiver. The shoe cover is able tobe removably coupleable to the shoe body via fastening the plurality offirst-fasteners to the plurality of second-fasteners in preferredembodiments.

The rail and the rail receiver in combination allow for an advantagecoupling of the shoe cover to the shoe body to cause the shoe cover totightly adhere to the shoe body to maintain a taunt condition in areliable manner. In these particular embodiments the advantage couplingcomprises the rail and the rail receiver in combination along with theplurality of first-fasteners and the plurality of second-fasteners toallow the shoe cover to hug-adjacent the shoe body such that surfacecontact is fully enabled between the shoe cover and the outside surfaceof the shoe body. The advantage coupling comprises the rail and the railreceiver in combination along with the plurality of first-fasteners andthe plurality of second-fasteners to allow the shoe cover tohug-adjacent the shoe body such that surface contact is fully enabledbetween the shoe cover and the inside surface of the shoe body.

The rail removably attaches to the rail receiver, the rail receiverbeing removably couplable from the rail, wherein the rail receiveroverlaps the rail; the rail and rail receiver are in continuous contactalong their respective lengths. The plurality of first-fasteners and theplurality of second-fasteners are located on the inside surface of theshoe body in preferred embodiments such that the present invention isaesthetically-pleasing and well as very functional in use. The pluralityof first-fasteners and the plurality of second-fasteners are located onthe inside surface of the shoe body such that a double-coupling isachieved via an overlap of the shoe cover over the shoe body over theoutside surface and the inside surface, wherein the outside surface andthe inside surface are used as friction surfaces to maximize surfacearea contact.

The fulcrum, as used, provides an apex overwhich the cover-body is ableto be stretched, wherein the fulcrum maximizes tautness via providing acounterforce against a combination of attached the plurality offirst-fasteners and the plurality of second-fasteners. The fulcrummaximizes tautness via providing a counterforce against the rail and therail receiver in combination. The modular shoe cover system isstructured and arranged such that a user-wearer is able to readilyinterchangably modify an appearance of shoe(s) according to a preferenceof the user-wearer.

The modular shoe cover system further comprising a kit including: theshoe cover assembly comprising the shoe body and a plurality of the shoecover(s), and a set of user-wearer-instructions. A method of usespecific to the novelty is also disclosed herein.

The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as ashoe cover assembly. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certainaspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have beendescribed herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all suchadvantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particularembodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied orcarried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage orgroup of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving otheradvantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of theinvention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, ashoe cover assembly, constructed and operative according to theteachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a shoe cover system duringan ‘in-use’ condition showing a shoe cover assembly according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the shoe cover assemblycomprising a shoe body and a cover according to an embodiment of thepresent invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating various components of the shoecover assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention ofFIGS. 1-2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating various components of the shoecover assembly of the shoe cover system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for the shoe coversystem according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to amodular shoe covering system and more particularly to a shoe coverassembly as used to improve the choices of shoe appearance as well asdurability of the shoe.

Generally speaking a shoe cover assembly is placed over the outsidesurface of the shoe body. The shoe cover is comprised of a plurality offirst-fasteners and a rail receiver. The shoe body is comprised ofsecond-fasteners and a rail. The attachment methods of a plurality offirst-fasteners to plurality of second-fasteners combined with theattachment methods of the rail to the rail receiver hold the shoe coverin place in a reliable manner.

The shoe cover assembly is comprised of a cover body and retainer strip.The retainer strip is comprises a rail receiver. The shoe body acts as afulcrum resulting in a taunt state for the cover-body which in turnapplies pressure to the retainer strip, causing it to pull on the railreceiver holding the rail receiver in place. Further benefits of theaction of the taunt state for the cover-body results in surfaceadherence to outside surface which in turn provides a smoother exteriorstate for the cover-body and better surface contact with enhancedgripping for the cover-body with the inside surface and the outsidesurface of the shoe body. Further benefits of the action of the tauntstate for the cover-body is that the taunt state of the cover-bodyenables the shoe body as a fulcrum with an apex for dividing the tensionbetween the outside surface and inside surface thus resulting in areduced stress on the coupling action of the plurality offirst-fasteners and the second-fasteners further resulting in a morereliable connection. The enhanced surface contact between cover-body andoutside surface reduces friction between the surfaces in a manner thatprotects the original appearance of the shoe body.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown inFIG. 1-4 various views of modular shoe cover system 100 comprising shoecover assembly 110 having cover-body 112, retainer strip 114 comprisingrail receiver 116, and plurality of second-fasteners 118; comprisingshoe body 120 (having sole 122, outside surface 124, inside surface 126,heel 128, seat 130, rail 132, and plurality of first-fasteners 134).

Shoe cover assembly 110 comprises cover-body 112, retainer strip 114,and plurality of second-fasteners 118 in functional combination.Retainer strip 114 comprises rail receiver 116 in a functionalcombination. Shoe body 120 comprises sole 122, outside surface 124,inside surface 126, heel 128, seat 130, rail 132, and plurality offirst-fasteners 134 in functional combination. As such the components ofthe present invention are related of shoe body 120 for wearing use.

Plurality of first-fasteners 134 are designed to be coupled to pluralityof second-fasteners 118 as a first anchor point for shoe cover assembly110. Shoe cover assembly 110 is then stretched over shoe body 120 in amanner that allows rail receiver 116 to be coupled to rail 132.

The action of stretching shoe cover assembly 110 over shoe body 120causes shoe body 120 to act as a fulcrum thus providing a number ofadditional benefits including reducing the stress on the plurality offirst-fasteners 134, creating a taunt state between shoe cover assembly110 and shoe body 120 which in turn results in a smooth surface for abetter appearance and a friction surface contact between cover-body 112and outside surface body 124 which in turn reduces wear between thesurfaces thus promoting the longevity of shoe body 120 and shoe coverassembly 110.

The action of providing and maintaining a taunt state in which the shoecover assembly 110 has with shoe body 120 combining with full lengthcontact between rail 132 and rail receiver 116 providing an advantagecoupling in a manner that results in a reliable connection along thefull length of the shoe further enabling a smooth exterior appearance ofthe cover body 112 and providing for a reliable connection due to theincreased amount of surface area for the connection. The increasedsurface area of the advantage coupling reduces the potential for theconnection to be lost while allowing shoe cover assembly 110 to flexalong with shoe body 120 as the foot of user-wearer 140 flexes duringuse.

The location of the plurality of first-fasteners 134 and plurality ofsecond-fasteners 118 is preferably inside shoe body 120 in a manner thatkeeps the fasteners from external view thus enhancing appearance. Theinside location of the plurality of first-fasteners 134 and plurality ofsecond-fasteners 118 inside shoe body 120 further enhances thereliability of the connection as the foot of the user-wearer 140 wedgesthe plurality of first-fasteners 134 and plurality of second-fasteners118 against inner surface 126 of shoe body 120.

The plurality of first-fasteners 134 and plurality of second-fasteners118 is inside the shoe body 120 and the connection method between therail 132 and rail receiver 116 are easily attached and detached in amanner that adds versatility and quick interchange capability. Shoecover body assembly 110 is repeatable in a number of styles and colorsfurther enhancing versatility and choice of appearance for user-wearer140. In this way the present invention is multi-functional.

Modular shoe cover system may be sold as kit 440 comprising thefollowing parts: at least one shoe cover assembly 110, at least one shoebody 120, and at least one set of user-wearer instructions 442. The kithas instructions such that functional relationships are detailed inrelation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention canbe used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). Modular shoecover system 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a widevariety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Uponreading this specification, it should be appreciated that, underappropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference,user-wearer preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structuralrequirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., otherkit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more orless components, customized parts, different indicator combinations,parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

Referring now to FIG. 5 showing flowchart 550 illustrating method of use500 for modular shoe cover system 100 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention of FIGS. 1-4.

As shown, method of use 500 may comprise the steps of: step one 501,attaching shoe cover assembly 110 to shoe body 120; step two 502,wearing modular shoe cover assembly 110 by user-wearer 140; step three503, removing modular shoe cover assembly 110 from user-wearer 140.

It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can becarried out in many different orders according to user-wearerpreference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “stepfor”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. Upon reading this specification, it should beappreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering suchissues as design preference, user-wearer preferences, marketingpreferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials,technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as,for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, eliminationor addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenancesteps, etc., may be sufficient.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application.

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A modular shoe cover systemcomprising: a shoe cover assembly comprising; a shoe body having; asole; an outside surface; an inside surface; a heel; a seat; a rail; anda plurality of first-fasteners; a shoe cover comprising; a cover-body; aretainer strip comprising a rail receiver; and a plurality ofsecond-fasteners; wherein said modular shoe cover system comprises saidshoe cover assembly; wherein said shoe cover assembly comprises saidshoe body and said shoe cover comprise in functional combination;wherein said shoe body is structurally defined by said sole, saidoutside surface, said inside surface, said heel, said seat, said rail,and said plurality of first-fasteners; wherein said shoe cover isstructurally defined by said cover-body, said rail receiver, saidretainer strip, and said plurality of second-fasteners; wherein saidshoe cover is able to be removably coupleable to said shoe body viafastening said plurality of first-fasteners to said plurality ofsecond-fasteners; wherein said rail and said rail receiver incombination allow for an advantage coupling of said shoe cover to saidshoe body to cause said shoe cover to tightly adhere to said shoe bodyto maintain a taunt condition in a reliable manner; and wherein saidmodular shoe cover system is structured and arranged such that auser-wearer is able to readily interchangably modify an appearance ofshoe(s) according to a preference of said user-wearer.
 2. The modularshoe cover system of claim 1 wherein said advantage coupling comprisessaid rail and said rail receiver in combination along with saidplurality of first-fasteners and said plurality of second-fasteners toallow said shoe cover to hug-adjacent said shoe body such that surfacecontact is fully enabled between said shoe cover and said outsidesurface of said shoe body.
 3. The modular shoe cover system of claim 2wherein said plurality of first-fasteners and said plurality ofsecond-fasteners are located on said inside surface of said shoe body.4. The modular shoe cover system of claim 3 wherein said plurality offirst-fasteners and said plurality of second-fasteners are located onsaid inside surface of said shoe body such that a double-coupling isachieved via an overlap of said shoe cover over said shoe body over saidoutside surface and said inside surface.
 5. The modular shoe coversystem of claim 4 wherein said outside surface and said inside surfaceare used as friction surfaces to maximize surface area contact with saidshoe cover.
 6. The modular shoe cover system of claim 5 wherein saidshoe body acts in a capacity of a fulcrum to minimize sheer stressimparted on said plurality of first-fasteners and said plurality ofsecond-fasteners.
 7. The modular shoe cover system of claim 6 whereinsaid fulcrum maximizes tautness via providing a counterforce against acombination of attached said plurality of first-fasteners and saidplurality of second-fasteners.
 8. The modular shoe cover system of claim6 wherein said fulcrum maximizes tautness via providing a counterforceagainst said rail and said rail receiver in combination.
 9. The modularshoe cover system of claim 6 wherein said fulcrum provides an apexoverwhich said cover-body is able to be stretched.
 10. The modular shoecover system of claim 1 wherein said rail removably attaches to saidrail receiver.
 11. The modular shoe cover system of claim 1 wherein saidrail receiver is removably couplable from said rail.
 12. The modularshoe cover system of claim 8 wherein said rail and rail receiver incombination provide leverage to enable said tautness.
 13. The modularshoe cover system of claim 1 wherein said rail receiver overlaps saidrail.
 14. The modular shoe cover system of claim 1 wherein said rail andrail receiver are in continuous contact along their respective lengths.15. The modular shoe cover system of claim 1 wherein said rail comprisesa male-profile fastening means.
 16. The modular shoe cover system ofclaim 1 wherein said rail comprises a female-profile fastening means.17. A modular shoe cover system comprising: a shoe cover assemblycomprising; a shoe body having; a sole; an outside surface; an insidesurface; a heel; a seat; a rail; and a plurality of first-fasteners; ashoe cover comprising; a cover-body; a retainer strip comprising a railreceiver; and a plurality of second-fasteners; wherein said modular shoecover system comprises said shoe cover assembly; wherein said shoe coverassembly comprises said shoe body and said shoe cover comprises infunctional combination; wherein said shoe body is structurally definedby said sole, said outside surface, said inside surface, said heel, saidseat, said rail, and said plurality of first-fasteners; wherein saidshoe cover is structurally defined by said cover-body, said railreceiver, said retainer strip, and said plurality of second-fasteners;wherein said shoe cover is able to be removably coupleable to said shoebody via fastening said plurality of first-fasteners to said pluralityof second-fasteners; wherein said rail and said rail receiver incombination allow for an advantage coupling of said shoe cover to saidshoe body to cause said shoe cover to tightly adhere to said shoe bodyto maintain a taunt condition in a reliable manner; wherein saidadvantage coupling comprises said rail and said rail receiver incombination along with said plurality of first-fasteners and saidplurality of second-fasteners to allow said shoe cover to hug-adjacentsaid shoe body such that surface contact is fully enabled between saidshoe cover and said outside surface of said shoe body; wherein said railremovably attaches to said rail receiver; wherein said rail receiver isremovably couplable from said rail; wherein said rail receiver overlapssaid rail; wherein said rail and rail receiver are in continuous contactalong their respective lengths; wherein said plurality offirst-fasteners and said plurality of second-fasteners are located onsaid inside surface of said shoe body; wherein said plurality offirst-fasteners and said plurality of second-fasteners are located onsaid inside surface of said shoe body such that a double-coupling isachieved via an overlap of said shoe cover over said shoe body over saidoutside surface and said inside surface; wherein said outside surfaceand said inside surface are used as friction surfaces to maximizesurface area contact; wherein said fulcrum maximizes tautness viaproviding a counterforce against a combination of attached saidplurality of first-fasteners and said plurality of second-fasteners;wherein said fulcrum maximizes tautness via providing a counterforceagainst said rail and said rail receiver in combination; wherein saidfulcrum provides an apex overwhich said cover-body is able to bestretched; and wherein said modular shoe cover system is structured andarranged such that a user-wearer is able to readily interchangablymodify an appearance of shoe(s) according to a preference of saiduser-wearer.
 18. The modular shoe cover system of claim 17 furthercomprising a kit including: said shoe cover assembly comprising saidshoe body and a plurality of said shoe cover(s); and a set ofuser-instructions.
 19. A method of using a modular shoe cover systemcomprising the steps of: attaching a shoe cover assembly to a shoe bodywearing the combination of shoe cover assembly and shoe body, andremoving the combination of shoe cover assembly and shoe body.